1. Homelessness and Ethnicity
Dr Beth Watts
I-SPHERE, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh
BME National Conference, 20th October 2016

2. Context Homelessness has been increasing in England since around 2010
Directly linked to weakening of welfare safety net
Tight housing markets plus Housing Benefit restrictions
93% (London) v 49% (North) of LAs say benefit cuts have increased homelessness
Targeted initiatives but Supporting People slashed by 56%

3. Statutory homelessness (England)

4. Change in immediate causes of homelessness (England)

5. Proportion of population – 2011 Census (%)
BME population in England & Wales
Proportion of population – 2011 Census (%)
White
87.1
Black or Black British
3.0
Asian or Asian British
6.2
Mixed
2.0
Chinese or other
1.6
13.0% of UK population
were born abroad (2014)

6. Statutory homelessness acceptances and ethnicity (England)
Proportion of statutory homeless households (%)
2010/11
2015/16
White 67 59
Black or Black British 14 17
Asian or Asian British 6 9
Mixed 3
Chinese or other 4 5
Statutory homeless households
White
BME
2010/11
29,540
12,380
2015/16
34,230
19,790
Change
+16%
+60%

7. Statutory family homelessness survey (2008, DCLG)
Ethnic minority homeless population heavily concentrated in London (even stronger than would be expected given strong representation of BME groups generally in capital)
Outside of London, proportion of BME homeless households in line with representation in broader population (around 10%)
59% of those in temporary accommodation for more than a year were from had ethnic minority background (70% in London)
Homeless households from BME background less likely to have experienced problems in childhood or adulthood than other homeless (less vulnerable profile); less likely to report mental health problems
Ethnic minority respondents less likely to have sought various forms of help than White respondents (join waiting list, seek private tenancy, ask friends and family to accommodate); less likely to have access to emotional and/or instrumental support

8. Youth homelessness (16-25 year olds) and ethnicity (Birmingham)

9. Rough sleeping by nationality (London)

10. Proportion of rough sleepers (%)
Rough sleeping and ethnicity (London)
Proportion of rough sleepers (%)
2011/12
2015/16
White
74.2
67.5
Black or Black British
12.4
13.5
Asian or Asian British
6.4
6.8
Mixed
2.1
2.2
Chinese or other
4.9
10.0
Rough sleepers
White
BME
2011/12
4013
1399
2015/16
5430
2617
Change
+35%
+87%

11. Migrant homelessness
Specific challenges for new migrants: language, lack of entitlement, vulnerability to exploitation, abuse, assault and robbery, lack of resources/income and social networks
18% of decisions made under homelessness legislation concern foreign nationals; half of these not owed main duty.
11 per cent of all adult respondents to family homelessness survey reported being a former asylum seeker
CEE rough sleepers in London up 37% in 2014/15 on previous year
Linked to 2014 restrictions to HB entitlement for EEA migrants
Distinct profile: migrant rough sleepers less likely to have experienced other kinds of ‘deep exclusion’ than UK born
Estimated 668,000 households, (1,252,000 people, 312,000 children) affected by destitution in UK in 2015: 21% migrants

12. Why?
Poverty, disadvantage and socio-economic marginalization (employment, education, pay, savings and assets etc.)
Disproportionate impact of welfare reform and austerity budgets (UC, benefit caps, LHA caps, HB cuts for 18-21s)
Citizenship status (access to social housing and welfare provision)
Immigration Act 2014 ‘right to rent’ landlord requirements
Also:
Racial/cultural discrimination (overt or covert), harassment
Cultural difference (exacerbate causes of homelessness e.g. overcrowding; constrains housing choice e.g. household size)
Language differences constrain access to services and accommodation options

13. Factors associated with homelessness among specific BME groups
South Asian women: fleeing domestic violence, forced marriage and family disputes
South Asian families: overcrowding, eviction from the PRS
Black Caribbean: family disputes (women), multiple and complex needs (mental ill health, drug use, background in prison or care)
Black African: extremely diverse, no pattern
Irish: domestic violence and financial problems, older single males strongly represented in hostels
Migrants: lack of entitlement to welfare support and challenges accessing social housing
Refugees: sustained socio-economic disadvantage, lack of networks/knowledge, discrimination and harassment

14. Closing remarks
BME groups disproportionately represented among homeless households, especially Black/Black British and in London
BME homelessness growing faster than non-BME homelessness
BME/migrant homeless have different profile to non-BME/non-migrant homeless: less complex needs, less traumatic backgrounds
Specific dynamics vary within BME population (citizenship status/migration, specific ethnic group)
Ongoing (disproportionate) impact of welfare reform, especially for young people, large families and new migrants
PRS now major cause of homelessness, social landlords key role in providing stable accommodation for low income households
Limited data and recent research, especially on causes of BME homelessness, role of discrimination vs. socio-economic disadvantage, how this picture is changing